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I'll accept this logic. The case plays and scenarios you gave sent me through both the ASA and Fed books. I'll grant that both codes authorize the on-deck batter to be on-field, although she doesn't have offensive status as either a runner or batter. I was working under the assumption that only batters, runners, and coaches were, to coin a term, "actively" in the game during a live ball. I can't find a rule to confirm that so specifically, so I won't assume it's true any longer.
If we grant that the on-deck batter is "in the game" by virtue of explicitly being permitted on-field (also exists in USA 7-1), then the blocked ball example is out. An on-deck batter who makes no act of INT, and touches a thrown ball, should be nothing; play on. However, I suspect that the "INT but no chance for an out" exception is both codes is what may be read as "any time the ball hits the ODB, it's a dead ball".
I'd love to see an official interp from TPTB in either USA or Fed.
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Powder blue since 1998. Longtime forum lurker.
Umpiring Goals: Call the knee strike accurately (getting the low pitch since 2017)/NCAA D1 postseason/ISF-WBSC Certification/Nat'l Indicator Fraternity(completed)
"I'm gonna call it ASA for the foreseeable future. You all know what I mean."
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